"See you in Beijing in 2022," President Xi welcomes the world to Beijing in video message

Source:Xinhua Published: 2018/2/26 8:13:33

Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomes the world to Beijing in a video message presented to the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games on Sunday.

"Together with all the Chinese people, I welcome friends from all over the world. See you in Beijing in 2022. A warm welcome to you all. A warm welcome to our friends," Xi said.

The closing ceremony included a short artistic performance under the theme of 'See You in Beijing in 2022,' which centered on the talents of a group of 24 roller-skating performers from Beijing Sport University (the number 24 representing the 24th Winter Olympics in Beijing), who skated together in perfect formation wearing specially-designed LED clothing.

Led by two performers dressed as "Panda Captains," the remaining 22 were joined on the center stage in an interactive, synchronized performance by 24 "automated guided vehicles" (AGVs) equipped with transparent, high-definition "ice screens".

The performance delved into China's ancient past, tapping into the country's rich cultural heritage while also paying tribute to the present, as well as the future that lies ahead. In addition to references to traditional elements including the Great Wall and auspicious mythical animals like the Chinese long (Chinese dragon) and the Chinese phoenix, the performance also showcased China's recent engineering feats, such as its extensive high-speed rail network and its space program.

Towards the end of the performance, the Olympic rings appeared on the stage, as well as images of a global village, smiling children's faces, olive branches and plum blossoms, symbolizing China's commitment to promoting global peace and building a better future for mankind. Finally, the skaters travelled a path to draw the "Winter Dream" emblem of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022.

The show came to its conclusion as the center stage transformed into an Internet data tunnel, with the "Panda Captains" digitized into cuddly "Panda Messenger" avatars who travelled through the tunnel to Beijing and other places in China, collecting Chinese people's invitations for the world to come for Beijing 2022 in four years' time. The invitations included one from President Xi Jinping.

The Panda Messengers returned through the tunnel to the PyeongChang Olympic Stadium with a large envelope, which opened to display pictures of Chinese people who had sent their messages of goodwill and invitations to the world.

Earlier in the closing ceremony, the Chinese national anthem was played and the Chinese flag was raised before International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach handed the Olympic flag to Beijing Mayor Chen Jining, marking an important milestone in the preparations for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing.

President Xi's special envoy and Vice Premier Liu Yandong attended the closing ceremony.